FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2008
Champions of the Environment gathering set
COLUMBIA – Three overall champions will be announced during the 2008 Champions of the Environment year-end celebration May 1 at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
“The overall awards give us the opportunity to recognize those schools doing outstanding environmental projects,” said Lynne LaSalle, DHEC’s coordinator for Champions of the Environment. “These groups protect the environment and increase environmental knowledge in their schools and communities.”
Lasalle said state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex will be making remarks at the event, which starts at 10:30 a.m.
According to LaSalle, the overall champions are chosen from the 10 Champions of the Environment grant winners for 2007-2008. The overall champions will share $5,000 in award money. The 10 grant winners include:
- Barnwell High School, Barnwell for “Turtle Hurdles”
- Blythewood High School, Blythewood, for “Living in Harmony With Nature”
- Charles Pinckney Elementary, Mt. Pleasant for “Reducing Waste in Our School Cafeteria”
- Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia for “Rain Garden”
- Forest Heights Elementary School, Columbia for “My! What Big Feet You Have!: Reducing Our Environmental Footprint”
- Lake Murray Elementary, Lexington for “Take a Wander Through the Wetlands”
- Seth Mangan / BSA Troop 45, Walhalla for “Storm Drain Action”
- Oakview Elementary School and Beck Academy, Simpsonville for “Solar Irrigation Project”
- Pine Street Elementary School, Spartanburg for “Hollywood Global Awards”
- Stone Academy of Communication Arts, Greenville for “Croft Park Renovation Project”
Twelve student winners from the Environmental Awareness Middle School Competition will also be recognized. The theme, “Taking Care of the Land, Water and Air” was addressed by students in essay, photography, poster and public service announcement divisions.
For more than a decade the Champions of the Environment partnership has promoted environmental education opportunities for South Carolina’s K-12 students. Champions of the Environment is proudly sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company, International Paper, WCSC-TV, WIS-TV and DHEC.
For more information, contact LaSalle at (803) 898-4394 or lasallli@dhec.sc.gov.
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For more information:
Lynne LaSalle – (803) 898-4394
E-mail – lasallli@dhec.sc.gov
or
Adam Myrick – (803) 898-3884
E-mail – myrickar@dhec.sc.gov
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